A Multi-Processor Workstation with a Logic-Enhanced Distributed Frame Buffer

Abstract

A graphics workstation should offer both a wide variety of 2D and 3D realtime display functions as well as a programmable parallel-processing capacity for large processing tasks. A system concept is proposed that meets these requirements by offering a multi-processor configuration with general-purpose programmable processors, enhanced with specific logic that can perform for each node a large number of simple pixel operations in parallel.